Herrera, Ochoa Ink Golden Boy Promotional Contracts

LOS ANGELES - With the New Year underway, Golden Boy Promotions is already bolstering the roster of the premier team in boxing, announcing today the official signings of junior welterweight contender Mauricio "El Maestro" Herrera and 140-pound prospect Zachary Ochoa to promotional contracts.

"We welcome these two exciting boxers to the Golden Boy Promotions team, and we have big plans for them in the coming years," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Mauricio Herrera is one of the most underrated fighters in the sport, but he will get his chance to shine in March when he challenges Danny Garcia for the junior welterweight title. We've been watching Zachary Ochoa during our east coast events, and he has a bright future in a talent-rich division."

"Being from Southern California, Golden Boy Promotions has always had a big presence, and I'm happy to be on the company roster," said Herrera. "I've paid my dues over the years, and now it's time to get my world title and the big fights. Golden Boy Promotions will help me get those fights. The world title, that's up to me."

"It's an honor for me to be a part of the best promotional company in boxing," said Ochoa. "I've been putting in a lot of hard work and I've made plenty of sacrifices over the years, never giving up the dream that one day I would get my chance to shine. That day is here, and I'm going to make the most of it."Fighting out of Riverside, Calif., Mauricio Herrera (20-3, 7 KO's) was one of the sport's most underrated competitors on his way up the 140-pound ladder, but when he defeated current world titlist Ruslan Provodnikov in January of 2011, the word was out on this super lightweight secret weapon. Mike Dallas, Ji-Hoon Kim and Miguel Angel Huerta have also fallen against the 33-year-old, and on March 15, he will get his long-awaited shot at a world championship when he faces Danny Garcia in Puerto Rico.

Carrying on Brooklyn's tradition of excellence in the ring, Williamsburg's Zachary "Zungry" Ochoa (5-0, 3 KO's) is a decorated amateur boxer now making his mark as a professional prizefighter. In the gym since the age of 13, Ochoa went on to win several amateur titles, including two New York State Junior Olympics titles and the New York State Metro championship. After graduating high school, Ochoa turned professional on September 10, 2011 with a fourth round technical knockout of William Ware, and he has remained unbeaten, most recently winning a four-round unanimous decision over Jose Valderrama on January 30, 2014.